White Center residents Craig and Sara Williams have set up The South 206, a Facebook group to share event and activity information with those of us who live in “the various southerly neighborhoods of Seattle.” That includes Georgetown, Beacon Hill, Sodo, and more. All south Seattleites on Facebook are welcome. The group is a “closed group,” which means you have to ask to enter, but this may change in the future.
Current activities mentioned in the group include a community pancake breakfast in South Park, the Georgetown Art Attack, a “Battle of Burien” breakdancing competition, and a tap show in Rainier Beach.
Two Beacon Hill schools were among 21 Seattle schools honored by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education with 2011 Washington Achievement Awards.
Maple Elementary School was one of the eight schools recognized for overall excellence at the elementary level.
Asa Mercer Middle School was one of five schools recognized for overall excellence at the K-8, 6-8, or 9-12 levels. Mercer was also recognized for outstanding achievement in mathematics and outstanding achievement in science.
The Seattle honorees were among 186 Washington schools to be recognized for their performance on the “Achievement Index,” which measures schools’ performance over time. (Find out more about the Index and the Achievement Awards here.) The 21 schools honored for 2011 are up from 13 in 2010 and seven in 2009.
The schools will be recognized during a ceremony on April 25 at Mariner High School in Everett.
On February 4, three local Filipino-American World War II veterans, Mariano Berona, Rosendo Luna, and Gene del Rosario, were honored at the dedication of a monument in Dr. Jose Rizal Park to honor the Filipino defenders of Bataan and Corregidor during World War II. February 4 was selected for the dedication because it is the anniversary of the date in 1945 when General Douglas MacArthur liberated Manila.
The Bataan and Corregidor Survivors Association proposed and sponsored the memorial placed within the park. At one point, it seemed that the memorial would not be able to happen, due to a city policy that prohibits memorials within city parks. Local writer Craig Thompson described the struggle in a recent column, quoting project leader Larry Cambronero: “‘…It dawned on me, I have no other choice but to press on. Perseverance and persistence were the two most valuable words taught to me by my grandfather, Robert [Rufino Cambronero, a Bataan survivor].'” The city eventually agreed to allow the monument.
Dr. Jose Rizal Park has also previously been the site of the Bataan and Corregidor Survivors Association’s yearly picnic. The park was dedicated in 1979, and is named after Dr. Jose Rizal, a Filipino patriot and reformer who was executed by the Spanish after he was accused of involvement in the 1896 Filipino insurrection.
“This Sunday, February 5th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is Lewis Park’s first work party of 2012. It will be extra special because the forecast includes mild temperatures and sun, sun, sun! If you’re interested in signing up, please visit our website here and click on the “Sign Up” link on the right side of the home page (sign up is not mandatory; walk on over!)”
Lewis Park work parties will be on the first and third Sundays of each month through November.
Vintage matchbook photo by jericl cat, via Flickr/Creative Commons.With the recent passage of Initiative 1183, Washington’s grocery stores are rushing to apply for new liquor licenses which will allow them to sell spirits. Beacon Hill’s Hilltop Red Apple Market and the nearby Rainier Valley QFC are no exception; both stores have recently filed “added/change of class/in lieu” applications to be classified as spirits retailers, along with their existing beer/wine licenses.
If you want to comment to the state Liquor Control Board about either of these applications, email customerservice@liq.wa.gov. The Red Apple license number is 350969, and the QFC license number is 353298.
Art Chair #1, painted by Kathleen McHugh. Photo courtesy of ROCKiT space.As we mentioned in the last Beacon Bits, ROCKiT is hosting a community “sit-in” on Saturday, February 4 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Beacon Hill Library to celebrate the completion of their art chair “fleet.” The chairs were decorated by more than 40 local artists and neighbors who volunteered their time to paint or collage chairs to be used at community events. The public is invited to this reception to view the finished chairs, enjoy free snacks, and celebrate all of the volunteers to took part in this and other ROCKit projects in 2011.
Among the festivities will be a singalong of an original song, “This Chair is My Chair”; a haiku treasure hunt, a game of musical chairs, and much more.
The 1936 golf course clubhouse building. Photo by Mark Holland.
The City of Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, February 15 at 3:30 p.m. to consider the landmark nomination of the Jefferson Park Golf Course Clubhouse.
All interested are invited to attend and comment. Written comments are also welcome, and should be received by the Landmarks Board by February 14 at 5 p.m. Comments may be mailed to:
Seattle Landmarks Preservation Board
Dept. of Neighborhoods
P.O. Box 94649
Seattle WA 98124-4649
The landmark nomination application includes an extremely detailed description of the building as well as a summary of Beacon Hill and Jefferson Park history, and may be viewed here (PDF link), as well as at the Beacon Hill Library.
The February 15 meeting will be held in the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave., Suite 1700. Further information about landmark preservation and the nomination process may be found at the Department of Neighborhoods website.
A Beacon Hill Blog reader who would prefer to remain anonymous sent us a series of pictures of the aftermath hit-and-run accident that occurred yesterday, February 1, at about 12:50 pm in the 1500 block of 18th Avenue South. He says, “Blueish Cadillac backed up, hit the Honda Accord, then the Honda CRV, and then sped off.” Ouch.
If you know anything about this incident, you should contact the Seattle Police.
Thanks to the neighbor who sent the photos!
The collision pushed this car into the garage door.
Tomorrow, February 2, at 6:30 p.m., 11th District State Representative Bob Hasegawa will host a telephone town hall meeting for constituents to bring up any questions, comments, and concerns about legislative and other issues. The 11th District includes parts of South Seattle including the western part of Beacon Hill, Burien, Sea-Tac, Tukwila, and part of Renton.
Just before 6:30 tomorrow evening, thousands of 11th District residents will get phone calls inviting them to participate in the town hall meeting by pressing “*3” on their telephones. If you don’t get a call and still wish to participate, you can call 1-877-229-8493 (toll free) and enter the PIN 18646 when prompted.
The proposed rezoning for the station area. Click on the image to see a PDF that contains a larger map.The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) is holding a public hearing on Wednesday, February 29 to discuss proposed rezoning in the North Beacon Hill urban village area, in order to implement the updated North Beacon Hill neighborhood plan. (See Seattle Council Bill 117375, currently in committee.) The proposed rezones may be seen in this PDF, and include rezoning several 40′ zones to 65′, changing parts of the El Centro properties from Single Family 5000′ to Neighborhood Commercial or Low-Rise zones, and changing some other areas to Low-Rise 3. Additionally, there would be a slight expansion of the Beacon Hill Station Overlay District.
The public hearing, which will be combined with a similar hearing for the Othello Neighborhood Plan update, will be held on Wednesday, February 29 at 6 p.m. at the NewHolly Gathering Hall, 7054 32nd Ave. S.
If you are unable to attend but still wish to comment, you may send comments to Councilmember Richard Conlin, richard.conlin@seattle.gov. Comments should be received by Tuesday, February 28, at 5 p.m.
